Page 30 of Hat Trick Holidate

“Do you want me to call you Rusti or Emmaline?” he asks, his voice crackling through the phone line, getting deeper.

“Emmaline, please, at least in public. My brother will freak the fuck out. He’s always been my protector, and his teammates are on the NO CAN DO list. Even if I want to.”

“So, Rusti in private?” he asks, his voice deep and scratchy. “Are you saying you can’t explore this connection between us because of your brother? Because I’ve thought about you since my rookie season.”

“I’ve thought about you too. But you couldn’t have been too miserable.”

There’s a long pause before he speaks again, his voice filled with sadness. “Not miserable but not fulfilled. Not happy.”

“How’s Jolie, now?”

“Sound asleep. Back to the favor I need to ask. You know how I said I don’t want Jolie to go to school until January?”

“Yeah, so you can spend time getting to know her,” I say, drawing out my words.

“Exactly. She means everything to me, and I want to make sure she’s well taken care of. Would you consider being Jolie’s nanny? I’ll pay you full time.”

“Me?” I ask.

He sighs into the phone. “Hear me out. I watched the two of you while cooking and marveled at how she smiled. Then when I saw her sleeping on your lap, I knew that you’re the person she needs in her life. Plus, she ate her chicken even if you had to dress it up. I want to learn from you like how you taught me how to read to her. You’re what she needs, Emmaline. But I also need someone to come to away games or stay at home with her when I’m out of town. I need someone while I’m at practice and other obligations. Then you could take her to the after-school program so she can get to know the other kids before starting in January.”

It’s obvious that Bryce has put a lot of thought into this, but I’m not sure it’s the right approach.

I sigh as my mind races with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, I’m flattered that Bryce wants to learn from me and values what I have to offer to his daughter. On the other hand, I’m wary of being around him so much that I fall for him, which would complicate things for Jolie, Roman, and me.

“This may not be a good idea. Jolie needs stability and doesn’t need people coming in and out of her life,” I say, even though I know I can’t resist the opportunity to spendeven more time with her. And if that means working alongside Bryce, then I’ll have to set some boundaries and make it clear that Jolie comes first.

“That’s the beauty of it. When it’s time to go to school at the beginning of the year, she’ll still be with you. She’ll see you at games and…”

“Okay, I have a million renovation projects to do so I’ll hold off on getting a full-time job. But Wynward,” I say, using his last name to put more distance between us. “We need to draw a thin, blue line and not cross it.”

“What? Why?”

“Because Jolie needs to know that I’m there for her and not using her to be in the Bryce Wynward hockey god world.”

“Rusti, you’ve called me a god several times tonight. I like it.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his cockiness that I love. Confident men are my weakness. “This will be a good time to prove that you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us. And you don’t always get what you want.”

He gets quiet. “Believe me, I’m used tonotgetting what I want.”

“Right.” My tone drips with sarcasm because how could this man not have everything he wants in life.

“Rusti, I have… never mind. Will you take the job?”

He throws out a ridiculous number for a salary. I ask, “Have you researched how much nannies get paid?”

“I make fifty-eight thousand dollars a day, so paying the person responsible for my daughter’s happiness and care is worth any amount of money.”

“Well, okay then. It’s a deal.”

“Can you come over tomorrow for breakfast, and we can work out a schedule?”

“I guess. If you’re sure about this,” I say, my voice betraying my hesitation. The truth is, I want this opportunity more than anything, but I’m scared of falling for a man and little girl I know I can never truly have. He’s lived rent free in my head, and now his sweet little one does too.

“Great, Jolie loves you,” Bryce says, and I hear the smile in his voice, and I can’t help but feel my own face breaking into a grin. “Nine o’clock. I’ll send a car for you since you left your car here.”

“Thanks.”

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